I never expected coaching to become such a sacred place.
I coach high school boys and girls’ volleyball. I coach a co-ed high school bowling team. But what I didn’t realize at first was that coaching would also coach me.
When my life shifted—when separation came—so much else changed too.
The invitations to preach slowed…then stopped.
Some of the pulpits that once welcomed me now stood silent.
But while people struggled to understand, the Lord didn’t.
He met me in the gym.
He sat with me by the bowling lanes.
He heard the prayers I tucked under my breath in between calling timeouts and setting lineups.
I stayed.
I coached.
I prayed.
I cheered them on even while my own heart was breaking.
The discipline, the focus, the consistency required of a coach helped heal pieces of me that I didn’t even realize were wounded. Coaching forced me to show up—every day. To serve. To teach. To believe. Even when my personal world was uncertain.
And somehow, standing in a gym or sitting by the lanes, God preached back to me:
“It’s not about the size of the crowd. It’s about your consistency in the calling.”
We made history at our school—division championships, personal bests, first-ever school and individual regional wins.
But the real history was the quiet victory happening inside me.
The rebuilding that only God could see.
Coaching didn’t replace preaching.
It prepared me for the next season of preaching.
Because before I could stand back in a pulpit, I had to remember what it felt like to simply serve—no spotlight, no applause. Just faithfulness.
When the pulpit didn’t understand, the Lord did.
And sometimes, that’s all the understanding you need.
District Elder & Pastor Harold Robertson, Jr. is a seasoned IT Accounts Manager and spiritual leader who bridges technology and faith to drive innovation in schools, churches, and communities. With certifications in ITIL, Google Workspace, AI, and church administration, he empowers organizations to thrive through strategic tech integration and leadership.
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Pastor Harold Robertson, Jr.
District Elder & Pastor Harold Robertson, Jr. is a seasoned IT Accounts Manager and spiritual leader who bridges technology and faith to drive innovation in schools, churches, and communities. With certifications in ITIL, Google Workspace, AI, and church administration, he empowers organizations to thrive through strategic tech integration and leadership.
